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giving happiness global impact

Day 99: Give a Toonie Share a Dream

Some days giving can be so easy. You walk into a store for one thing and find the opportunity to GIVE at the same time.

Staples recently gave me that opportunity as they partnered with the Special Olympics Canada to raise funds for remarkable athletes. Give a Toonie Share a Dream. Funds raised topped $400,000 for 2010 as we all participated with just a toonie to make a difference.

Day 99 / Give 99

365give is my passion not my business. It has evolved from running my own event production company for the past 15 years.  My office is not fancy and it is in my home, but I use all the basics an office needs. Paper, ink, pens and other supplies to help me produce special events. Just down the street I have a Staples store that makes shopping for office supplies easy and convenient. . They have just about everything I need for my office and specialty items that I require to produce events. On one recent shopping trip I had the chance to GIVE to the Special Olympics Canada. My son and I also had the chance to speak with a gold medal winner who had participated in Special Olympics that was in the store that day. My son got to see his medal and we had a chance to learn about the support they are receiving by Staples to compete athletically at such a high level.

Special Olympics Canada has a very clear mission of commitment to Canadian athletes:

Provide all athletes with choices in their opportunity to train and to compete;
Be accessible and open to all athletes with a intellectual disability, regardless of their ability;
Be a change agent for social inclusion – advocating for and providing all athletes with opportunities for integration through sport;
Be recognized as an integral and valued part of the sport delivery system by working in partnership with sport organizations.

All I had to do was add $2.00 to my bill when I was checking out and I participated in raising over $400,000 to help our athletes cover all the expenses that go into training and competing at a world level.  This is really what 365give is all about. It’s all of us doing one small thing together to create big change around the world.

One of the things I have discovered through 365give is the amount of companies that have embraced philanthropy and make it easy to for their costumers participate in reaching their philanthropic goals. Not only do they GIVE part of their profits but they work with the people they do business with to support causes all over the world.

Philanthropy doesn’t mean you have to GIVE everything away. You can still make money and keep lots of it but actively participating in your community is a big step towards making the world a better place.

If you have a favourite store you shop at or a company you work with that also actively contributes, let us know. 365give is happy to do a feature on those companies to encourage businesses to step up and use their influence and profits to change the world one day at a time.

Time Commitment: 0

Cost: $2.00 towards $400,000 raised

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)